Why do we love the dorky face of David Letterman that stares at us from the television screen at the late hours of the night? He has made the boring, dull, and uninteresting late night variety show into clever, unusual, and trendy entertainment. Most of all, he makes us laugh! Why is he famous? As the host of The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS, he is responsible for making top ten lists and stupid pet tricks household names. Letterman has become part of television’s late night history. An average Indiana native and a C student, he transformed his life from typical into legendary as he has become the king of late night television.
On April 27, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana a unique star was born. David Michael Letterman was anything but classic television material. He was the middle child, with an older sister Janice, and a younger sister Gretchen. His mother, Dorothy Letterman, was a church secretary, his father Harry Letterman, was a florist. Unfortunately, Harry Letterman would never live to see the fame of his son, while Dorothy is a correspondent for the Late Show with David Letterman. The nerdy, gap-toothed Letterman would attend School 55, and Broad Ripple High School. His first job was at Atlas Supermarket as a stock boy. He would graduate from high school in 1965.
Dave’s mentor in college was Darrell Wible, a professor in the telecommunications department, “You never know how talent will evolve or be recognized. I couldn’t have predicted his spectacular success, but I remember walking down the hallway with a faculty member who said, ‘That Letterman is stupid.’ “I said, ‘As far as I’m concerned, David Letterman is a creative genius’” (Cader 24). After receiving knowledge from such professors as Wible, Dave has managed to give back to Ball State University. Since 1985, the Letterman Scholarship has been made available to juniors in the telecommunications department at Ball State University. The money goes toward tuition and room and board for a student’s senior year. It has been a misconception that the Letterman Scholarship is specifically for C students. It is for all applicants regardless of their grades. Although, he did donate 25,000 dollars for a production room in honor of all C students. After Letterman’s struggles at Ball State University, he graduated in 1969 with a C average.
Once he finished his rebellious years in college, it was time for the true test in the real world. Letterman began work at WERK, a local radio station in Indianapolis. After a short period of time, he moved to his other forte of television. He joined WLWI-TV (Channel 13, now called WTHR) in Indianapolis. He hosted a late night movie show called, Freeze-Dried Movies, and Clover Power, a Saturday morning program that featured local kids in the 4-H club. Also a weatherman for WLWI-TV, his antics lost his job for him when he congratulated a tropical storm for being upgraded to hurricane status (Latham 34).
After some disappointing years at local television, he decided to move to Los Angeles in 1975. Letterman attempted stand up at Mitzi Shore’s Comedy Store. Evidently he was found funny by the owners because he was hired to work regularly. Dave said, “I originally went to Los Angeles as a writer. It’s more palatable to tell your family that you’re going to be a writer than it is to tell them that you’re going to do stand-up comedy. They think you’re looking for circus work or something like that” (Cader 28).
He viewed it as a break when
Jimmie Walker hired him to write fifteen jokes a week for one hundred and
fifty dollars for the sitcom, Good times. “He wanted me to write
jokes with a black point of view. He was the first black person I
had ever seen” (Cader 28). More writing opportunities appeared in
1977 when he wrote for The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour. Letterman appeared
on such shows as: The Gong Show, he was a Celebrity guest on The Twenty-Thousand
Dollar Pyramid, the sitcom Mork and Mindy, Celebrity Cooks, Battle of the
Network Stars V, the variety show Mary and the Starland Vocal Band, and
Peeping Times. A secretary at the Peeping Times encouraged Letterman
to fix his defective teeth for a better image. Letterman refused
the advice and is now infamous for the gap in his teeth. These small
acts would build up until his big break.
On November 24, 1978 David Letterman appeared
on the Tonight Show and talked with his soon to be mentor, Johnny Carson.
Letterman was a guest twenty-two times, and he guest hosted fifty times.
On June 23, 1980 The David Letterman Show appeared on NBC. It won two Emmys,
one for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and the other for Outstanding Writing
of a Talk/Service Show. It ran for only three months due to low ratings.
As Carson was getting ready to retire Letterman publicly announced his
desire for the job. Even Time magazine crowned Letterman the heir
to Carson’s king of late-night crown. Unfortunately, the crown was
given to Jay Leno. Letterman went to CBS for a 14 million dollar
contract. On February 1, 1982, Late Night with David Letterman premiered
on NBC at 12:30. The new show was complete with Paul Shaffer and
CBS orchestra, Bill Murray, the first guest, did a comedic sketch by singing
“Let’s Get Physical.” NBC, bitter with losing Dave, threatened to
refuse him the right to use his material. Dave took his feelings
toward them out on the air (“David Letterman Indianapolis-born comedian,
talk show host”).
August 30, 1993 the new Letterman arrived with Late Show with David Letterman. It premiered on CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater. Regular guests included Rupert Jee, a deli owner across the street, and stage manager Biff Henderson. Although Letterman keeps his life private, he shared his quintuple heart bypass surgery in January 2000 with the viewers of the Late Show. He also shared his business life when in March 2002 ABC tried to lure Dave to take over Ted Koppel’s Nightline time slot. On March 11, 2002 he announced that he would not move. He took advantage of the opportunity to embarrass the network by building up Koppel.
The success of Letterman’s life can be measured by the numerous awards he has received. He has been honored with the George Foster Peabody award for taking “one of TV’s most conventional and least inventive forms—the talk show—and infusing it with freshness and imagination.” Letterman has also received a, “Foundation Award.” He has also been named one of TV guide’s “50 Greatest Stars of All Time.” His television success has not been mirrored in movies with his only short role being seen in Cabin Boy. Letterman did manage to expand himself into business as he founded The Worldwide Pants Corportaion. His show has spoken for itself with the twelve Emmys it has received.
David Letterman, an average Hoosier, manages to make himself known to the world as The Late Show with David Letterman is shown around the globe to such places as: Germany, Holland, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, and many European countries. The Los Angeles Times acclaimed, “The Letterman series is a phenomenon.” Next to Johnny Carson he has achieved the second longest run on late night with his fifteenth year occurring in 2002. That is why it is suitable that Letterman has been given the title, “The King of Late Night.” Letterman said if he were to write his own epitaph this is what it would say: “David Letterman. He wasn’t funny, but he wasn’t an asshole.” Americans would say: David Letterman, he was just an average Hoosier, but is now a Legend.
Works Cited
Cader, Michael. Dave’s World: The Unofficial Guide to the Late Show with David Letterman. United States: Warner Books, 1995.
Latham, Caroline. The David Letterman Story. New York: F. Watts, 1987.
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